Self-winding clock and the like



Feb. 14, 1928.

s. MANHEM SELF WINDING CLOCK AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 19, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN 7:0R.

Feb. 14, 1928.

s. MANHEIM SELF WINDING CLOCK AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 19, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 14, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFCE.

SELF-WINDING CLOCK AND THE LIKE.

Application filed December 19, 1925. Serial No. 76,442.

This invention relates to automatic clock rewinding mechanisms, and is an improvement upon my Patent No. 1,605,674, dated November 2, 1926. l

ythe prima-ry1 object of the invention is to provide novel means in a. mechanism ot this character, whereby the rewinding motor is permitted to accelerate or gain speed betere assuming the load incident to the rewinding of the main spring ot the usual clock mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide means tor automatically resetting the rewin'ding mechanism by a predetermined overwinding ot the main spring of the clock mechanism.

.Another object of the invention is to provide. means tor resetting' the various parts et the energyv producing mechanism through the medium ot the main spring, so that the clock will be automatically wound and will start ot itself whenever it is connected with any suitable source ot energy. For example, should the mechanism be used where the source ot energy is a storage battery and the battery be removed tor repairs or recharging the clock would run under the action ot the spring for a given length ot time. lt' the batter)Y is not replaced, the clock would stop when the spring has run down, but with thc mechanism in such position that the clock would be immediately rewound and would start automatically when ythe same again connected in circuit with the storage battery.

Further advantages and objects of the invention will be apparent throughout the following description and drawings in lwhich Fig. l is a sectional side elevation with the mechanism in winding position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with thc rewinding mechanism disconnected from the clock mechanism g 3 is a vertical section as seen 'from the rear or" the clock, partly broken away:

l is a perspective view illustrating s elements ot a lock with which the mechanism is provided;

.i is a side elevation partly in section Y mature and pinion with its aitixed Fig. Z in the. direction ot the arrows, showing the position of several ot the elements at the beginning ot the winding operation;

Fig. T is a similar view showing the same elements in further progress ot' rewinding;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. showing the mechanism when the spring has been overwound to a predetermined extent;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the position ot the elements after the completion of an entire winding operation;

Fig. l is a vertical section on the line i ot Fig. Q in the direction ot' the arrows;

Fig. ll is a side elevation partly in section of a modiiied torni ot my invention in which the gearing is omitted so as to make possible a. more compact mechanism, and I have permanently united the winding collet 52 with the winding ratchet 42, so that both t'orm a single unit, and in this manner both parts are threaded onto the spindle end ett ot the motor armature, and

Fig. l2 is a perspective view of various elements of the winding drive, in disassembled order.

ln proceeding in accordance with the pres ent invention, a back board 13 is employed through which contact posts lli project. 'l`he posts 14e are carried bj a platev 2G and are connected to wires lwhich lead 'from a source of supply. 'An electric motor l0 is connected to wires 17, the latter being con-` nected to the posts lll. One ot the wires 17 split and connected to spring contact arms lS that are carried by an insulating block iti mounted on a. front plate A timing mechanism, such as a watch or clock movement is mounted in a casing 19 on the front plate and includes a main driving wheel 20 shown in dotted lines. rlhe wheel 20 is mounted on a drivingshaft 2l and operated by a convolute spring 22 which latter performs a variety of functions as will be later described. rl"he spring 22 is disposed within a. barrel Q7 attached to the shaft 2l, the barrel having a .mb Q9 on which an insulating disk 528 is mounted so as to turn t'reelv thereon, the hub being reduced at 30 and receiving thereon a. ratchet. wheel 3l that is attached by screws 32 to the barrel.

The disk Q6 has an. arcuate arm of a conarmature spindle, as shown .aliined thereto is reversibly and threadedly connected to the end 44 of the motor armaturespindle 44 as shown in Fig. 5. A pawl 45 tensioned by a spring 46 is engageable with the tooth 47 ofthe ratchet 42.-V A' plate 25 disposed between the front and back plates 13 and 23 has a stop V48 secured thereto by av fastener 48 and is disposed beneath the pawl 45 and acts to prevent other than the tip of the pawl engaging tooth 47.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, pinion 42 is spaced from a: shoulder 50 onthe armature spindle 44 which is its position at the com-` pletion of the winding operation. j Upon engagement of the pinion with the shoulder, the tensioning of the main spring commences.

A winding collet 52 having a hook 53 is secured on the threaded end of spindle 54 of a winding gear 51, the hook extends through wall 52 of the barrel 27 and engages the inner end of the main spring, the other end ofwhich latter is connected to the barrel.

narin 56 is adjustably secured to a flange 57 of the collet by means of a. screw 58 passing through a slot 58 in the base of the arm. The arm 56 is in the path of a pin 59,`car ried by disk 28 so that when the motor is energized, pin 59 is engaged by arm 56 and the disk 28 thereby rotated, thus separating the arms 18 and stopping the motor.

The operation is as follows assuming that the spring 22 is fully wound, the Vpinion 42 with its ratchet 47 is positioned on the threadedv portion of the in Fig. 2. As thespring unwinds the shaft 21 will be rotated in the direction of the Varrow in Fig. 6, carrying with` it the ratchet wheel 31, which in turn engages the pawl 37 carried by the insulating disk 28 and thus causes the latter to rotate with the shaft.

As the disk is rotated, contact 33 mounted thereon is moved into engagement with the soring contactsv 18 and closes the circuit to the motor, causing the same to rotate in the direction :indicatedV by the dotted arrow.

This movementgof .the motor causes the pinion 42 to move inwardly upon the screw threaded end 44 of the arbor until the same contacts and binds against V*the shouldervl) wherebytlie pinion will begin to rotate with the motor arbor and vin turn willl rotate 51 and collet 52 to wind the spring.

The various parts are so timed that'when pawl 37 carried by the f during the period gear - of an entire revolution, ltrwill engage stop 59 and move Vthe latter forward before the 1.397

the spring is fully wound, the stop 56 carried by the collet 52 will engage the stop 59 car-` ferred to show and describe a winding. operation that is effected in fourV stages, of which the first stage relates to the acceleration of the armature up to the time'whenthe actual tensioning of the spring commences.

The second stage of the winding operation treatsl of the tensioningof the spring tothe amount needed for operating mechanism.

The third stage treats of the excessive tensioning of the mainV spring, to provide for the backlash of the spring, and

rlhe fourth stage Vtreats ofmeans for releasing the armature from tensioning connection with the spring.

The first stage ofthe winding operation is as follows. i

lvhen, as shown in Fig. 6, the ratchet 31 moves the contact 33 carriedby the disk 28 into closed circuitposition with the'contacts V18, the armature 38 will rot-'ate in the direction indicated by the dotted arrow to move the ratchet 41 inwardly upon the screw threaded spindle 44 until the same engages the shoulder 50, as shown in Fig. 1.

The movable Velements are indicated in dotted lines to show their before the circuit is closed.

I have also shown by dotted lines the previous position of the armature, that is before the circuit is closed, for instance when the armature is released from the pinion 41 for of the` last winding operation as shown at S6 in Fig. 9, it will have made three-fourths of one revolution at the moment itis connected to the pinion 41, the Vdotted segment of the armature S-Sl, having moved therefrom to the position SkSZ in Fig. 6.

rllhe second stage of is as follows. Y

The stop 56 carried by the collet 52 being in the vsame plane of rotation as the disk 28 when rotatel for an entire revolution will be at a pointof location atthe rear of stop 59 of the disk, and the spring is then wound to the exact amount that it unwound itself since the last winding Voperation. In order l reach its point of location at the completion Vspring 22 and the gearA 51, and I have .prev the timing p various positions Y disk 28 and thereby move the conk three-fourthsof one thread vat thecompletion firmly Y thatz the stop 56 mayl the winding operation y Leashes entire revolution is completed. In Fig. 7, I have shown both stops at the moment they engage and have indicated stop 56 by 7 and stop 59 by r. lVhen this engagement ot the stops takes place, the disk is moved ahead and in order to sustain the winding operation ot' the motor, the elongated contact 33 and the contacts 1S must have a certain amount of engagement.

lhen both stops reach the point of location as indicated by 7 and fr will have to move r ahead before r can take the position of r', and will continue to move until it takes the position as indicated by 56, having then made a complete revolution and having caused 7 to reach the position at 59.

Allowing 3C for the width of each stop, 'n will have moved tor the combined width oit these stops which amounts to 6 and there- Jfore the disk 28 with the elongated Contact 33 will be moved between the spring contacts 18 for a distance of 6.

The Winding gear 51 having forty teeth and being in the same plane of rotation as the stops 56, will make one Jfull revolution. The pinion 41 having ten teeth, will make tour revolutions and the tooth 47 will be at the same location with regard to the paivl tip t9 as shown in Fig. G, and by the use of a proper combination of gearing, as 'for eX- ample a ratio of four to one, the tooth 47 will always be at the same point of location with regard to the tip of the paWl at the moment when the spring becomes wound to the exact amount needed tor the operation of the timing mechanism. The armature having made exactly tour revolutions, will be in the position S-SS which is the same as S-S2 in Fig. 6.

It is to be understood that I do not Wish to )e limited to this particular combination or" gearing, nor to the use of any gearing. In Fig. 11, I have shown a modified form of my invention, in which gearing is omitted.

The third .stage of the winding operation is as `follows.

The 'armature being energized, continues to wind the spring until the disk 28 advances Afor the combined lengths ot the engaging surfaces of the contact 33 and the contacts 18.

By providing an elongated Contact of predetermined length, the tooth of the ratchet 47 will be moved for a part of a revolution beyond the pawl tip. Ot the entire lengt-h ot this contact, covers the disk for attaining part ot this excessive overwinding so that the Winding gear which is in the same plane of rotation as the disk, is thereby moved for 70 o'l its circumference. 2O being allowed for the surface engagement of the contact blades will causethis gear to be moved or a total of 72 or the width ot eight ot its teeth. The point m on the rim ot the Winding gear in Fig. 8 will be found 'T20 past its point of location as disclosed in Fig.

7 and the armature, having rotated 288 in excess, will be at S-S "he contact 33 is moved 6 ot its length between contacts 18 and when it reaches the end ot the third part ot' the Winding operation, 700 more oit this Contact is permitted to pass between contacts 1S, making a total ot T60 through which the same is moved.

In Fig. 10, I have illustrated by shaded lines the relative proportions of the contacts 33, 18, the gear 51 and pinion a1 for the purpose et predetermimng the exact amount of separation between the ratchet tooth and the pawl at the completion ol thethir-d part of the winding operation.

Vl`he ourth and last stage oit' the winding operation is as follows.

when the electric circuit is open and the armature is (le-energized, the rotatable winding elements, including stop 56, are reversed through the backlash ot the tensioned main spring, and when the tooth 47 ot' the ratchet becomes intercepted by the pawl, as shown in Fig. 9, all of these elements except the armature will be brought to a stop.

The armature being forcibly and speedily reversed through the excess energy of the .tensioned main spring, will attain the physical properties ot' a flywheel and will be caused to release itself from the pinion ell and ratchetet, and the armature having weight and momentum, will continue to rotate until the excess energy is spent thereby moving the pinion 41 out ot' engagement with the shoulder 50, taking the position 5 5" shown at Fig. 9.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 11, I have provided end spaces B and C between the 'trame plate bearings of the motor and the shoulder 50 of the armature spindle, to permit the armature to shift sideways in case the winding pinion and its ratchet meet with too much trictional resistance from the winding gear, thereby permitting the armature to follow the course ot the least trietional resistance.

From the foregoing description ot operation. it will be seen that the armature will be allowed to accelerate before undertaking the loa-d or' rewinding the timing mechanism and is particularly adapted for conditions where a diminished energy supply in the line causes the motor to be in a weaker working condition than when a normal supply ot energy is available.

Although I have shown and described means that operate at predetermined times to cliect the desired results, nevertheless, under certain conditions, as set 'forth in my patent above noted, I do not wish to be limited to the provision ot such means, as more or less overwinding ot' the spring may occur at times, under favorable conditions, without such means, as, for example, would be the case, when an abundant supply ot energy to il l1 mii y the motor is available as already described, 'Y

vsupply often varies, whether bataut as the teries or mechanical means are used for generating this energy, the overivinding ci the spring Without the provision ot'this means becomes uncertain.

` Having thus described my in-vention,what I claim is l. In Combination, a timing mechanism having a spring' motor for operating the same, Velectrically controlled means for storing a predetermined amount oi energy in the spring motor, rotatable means controlled bythe timing'mechanisinand movable independently thereof and having an insulated Vcontact adapted to close thev circuit through said electrically controlled means, a clutch interposed between the spring motor-and the energy storing means adapted for engagement upon the preliminary acceleration of the energy storing means, means to open the circuitupon the storing of a predetermined amo "it of energy in the spring motor, and meansto disconnect the clutch by the reaction of the spring motor upon the storage of cLcess energy therein.

2. in combination, a timing mechanism, electrically controlled means for storing a predetermined amount of energy in said timing mechanism, circuit controlling means operable by the timing mechanism, ai clutch interposed between the electrically controlled storing means and the timing mechanism, mechanically operated means to render the clutch operative upon the deple-H' tion of the energy in the timing mechanism below a predetermined amount, and means to render the clutch inoperative by the retrograde movement of the timing mechanism upon the storing of energy in said mechamsm,V above a. predetermined amount.

3. lnV combination, a timing mechanism, an energy storing mechanism for said timing mechanism, means to connect theenergy storing mechanism with the vtiming mechanism when the energy in the timing mechanism has reached a predetermined loi point otdepletion, and means to disconnect the energy storing mechanism by theV retrograde iovemcnt of the timing mechanism when the energy stored therein reaches a point above a predetermined amount.

e. ln combination, a. timing mechanism,

electrically controlled i means Vfor storing energy in the timing mechanism, V*rotatable switch means -'or controlling the storing mechanism and operable by the timing mechanism, rotatable clutch means for connectline' the-energy storing means to the timing mechanism upon the preliminary acceleration or the storing means, and means to disconnect the clutch by the retrograde movement or the timing mechanism upon the storing o1c energy vin timing mechanism in excess or' a predetermined amount.

Y an electrically Vtiming mechanism and Vtiming mechanism has 5. In combination, `a timing mechanism, controlled energy A storing mechanism, means operable by the timing mechanism to close the circuit to the'storing mechanism, clutch interposed between the storing mechanism by the initial acmechanism, lmeans adapted for connection celeration of the storing ycontrolled by theV storing mechanism for opening the circuit when the energy stored in the timing mechanism has reached a predetermined point, and means to disconnect the clutch by tlrc retrograde movement of the timing mechanism when the energy stored therein has reached a point in excess of the predetermined amount. i f

`6. In combination, a' timing-mechanism having'a spring motor for operating'the same, an electrically'controlled energy stor-` ing mechanism ior the timing mechanism having a rotating armature, circuit Vcontrolling means operable to lcloselthe circuit to the storing mechanism, a clutch carried by the rotatingV armature and engageable upon the initial `acceleration thereof, means actuated by the storing mechanism to open the circuit whenV the energy stored has reached a predeterminedV point and means to disconnect the clutch from the rot-ating armature by the reversal of theV spring motor when the energy stored has reached a point in excess of a. predetermined amount;V l 7. In combination, a timing mechanism, means for storing a predetermined amount of encrgy'in the'timingmechanism, a. clutch interposed between the timing mechanism` and the energy storing mechanism,adapted for engagement upon the preliminaryac-l celeration of the energy storing mechanism, and 4means to disconnect the vclutch 4by the retrograde movement ot'the timing mechabythe spring motorI nism upon the storage of cxcess'energy in y the timing' mechanism. Y y c Y 8. In combii'iation, a. timing-mechanism, means 'for storing a predetermined amount ot' energy inthe 'timing mechanism, meansV to operate the energy storing mechanism when the energy in the timing mechanism has reached a Vpredetermined low point of depletion, connecting means between the timing mechanism and .the energy storing mechanism adaptedrfor operation during the Vpreliminary acceleration of the energy storing mechanism, and means lto release the connecting means by the retrograde movement ol the timing mechanism' upon the storage ot excessenergy in said mechanism. Y Y

`9. Inv combination, a timing-mechanism,

energy storing 'mechanism for said' timing mechanism, means to operateV the .energy storing-mechanisin when the energy in the reached aA predetermined'low point 'of depletion, clutch means interposed between the timing mechanism ini:Y ined cir-Ch by the icrngmdc movement of the inning mechanism upon the storage of cr;- Ccss enclgy in said mechanism.

In csitiinony whereof hcrcuno infin my Signnmc.

SALOMON MANHEIM. 

